Lobelia plant named ‘Sunlobe Torecama’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Lobelia  plant named ‘Sunlobe Torecama’, characterized by its upright to trailing and mounding plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; dense and bushy plant form; freely flowering habit; long flowering period; large purple violet-colored flowers with white-colored centers; relative tolerance to high temperatures and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Lobelia erinus.

Cultivar denomination: ‘SUNLOBE TORECAMA’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Lobelia plant, botanically known as Lobelia erinus and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Sunlobe Torecama’.

The new Lobelia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan. The objective of the breeding program is to create new outwardly spreading to trailing Lobelia plants with large attractive flowers, good garden performance and high temperature tolerance.

The new Lobelia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in May, 2012 of a proprietary selection of Lobelia erinus identified as code number 11Lob-16a, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Lobelia erinus identified as code number 11Lob-16b, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Lobelia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan in May, 2013.

Asexual reproduction of the Lobelia plant by vegetative cuttings in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan since May, 2013 has shown that the unique features of this new Lobelia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Lobelia have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Sunlobe Torecama’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Sunlobe Torecama’ as a new and distinct Lobelia plant:

-   -   1. Upright to trailing and mounding plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit; dense and bushy plant form.     -   4. Freely flowering habit.     -   5. Long flowering period.     -   6. Large purple violet-colored flowers with white-colored         centers.     -   7. Relatively tolerant to high temperatures.     -   8. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Lobelia differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in branching habit as plants of the new Lobelia are more freely branching than plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Lobelia differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in flower size as plants of the new Lobelia have larger flowers than plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Lobelia can be compared to plants of Lobelia erinus ‘Lobmounlila’ , disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,410. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, plants of the new Lobelia differed from plants of ‘Lobmounlila’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Lobelia were more trailing than and not as         upright as plants of ‘Lobmounlila’.     -   2. Plants of the new Lobelia were taller and broader than plants         of ‘Lobmounlila’.     -   3. Leaves of plants of the new Lobelia were longer and narrower         than leaves of plants of ‘Lobmounlila’.     -   4. Flowers of plants of the new Lobelia had larger centers than         flowers of plants of ‘Lobmounlila’.     -   5. Plants of the new Lobelia were more high temperature tolerant         than plants of ‘Lobmounlila’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Lobelia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the actual colors of the new Lobelia plant.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Sunlobe Torecama’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Sunlobe Torecama’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used for the aforementioned photographs and following description were grown in 15-cm containers during the spring and early summer in an outdoor nursery in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan and under cultural practices typical of commercial Lobelia production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 23° C. and night temperatures averaged 13° C. Plants were four months old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Lobelia erinus ‘Sunlobe Torecama’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Lobelia             erinus identified as code number 11Lob-16a, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Lobelia             erinus identified as code number 11Lob-16b, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer and winter.—About one week at             temperatures about 15° C. to 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer and             winter.—About three weeks at temperatures about 15° C. to             20° C.         -   Root description.—Fibrous; typically white in color, actual             color of the roots is dependent on substrate composition,             water quality, fertilizer type and formulation, substrate             temperature and physiological age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; relatively dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright to trailing and mounding             plant habit; freely branching habit with lateral branches             developing at potentially every node; dense and bushy plant             habit; vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 25 cm.         -   Plant width.—About 65 cm.         -   Lateral branch description.—Length: About 24 cm to 29 cm.             Diameter: About 1.3 mm to 1.6 mm. Internode length: About             2.3 cm. Strength: Strong, flexible. Aspect: Outwardly             spreading. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 137B. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple; sessile.         -   Length.—About 3.3 cm.         -   Width.—About 5.4 mm.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate to oblong.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Cuneate.         -   Margin.—Shallowly serrate.         -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth,             glabrous; matte.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to N137D.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 137C. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N137C; venation,             close to 138B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 137C; venation, close to 138B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement, habit and shape.—Flowers typically             arranged in terminal and lateral racemes; flowers face             mostly outwardly to slanting downward; freely flowering             habit with about five flowers per inflorescence and more             than 500 flowers developing per plant; flowers bilabiate             with two upper petals and three larger lower petals.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—In Japan, plants of the new             Lobelia flower continuously from May until October; early             flowering habit, plants begin flowering about three to four             weeks after planting.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—Longevity of individual             flowers is highly dependent on temperature, flowers             typically last about 10 to 14 days on the plant; flowers             persistent.         -   Inflorescence length.—About 16.4 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 10.6 cm.         -   Flower length.—About 1.5 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 1.6 cm.         -   Flower depth.—About 1.5 cm.         -   Flower tube length.—About 7 mm.         -   Flower tube diameter, mid-section.—About 2.6 mm.         -   Flower tube diameter, base.—About 1.6 mm.         -   Flower throat diameter.—About 3.5 mm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.2 cm. Diameter: About 3.3 mm.             Shape: Club-shaped. Color: Towards the apex, close to 77A;             mid-section, close to 145C; towards the base, close to N80B.         -   Petals.—Arrangement: Single whorl of five petals fused             towards the base; two upper petals and three larger lower             petals. Upper petals: Length, beyond throat: About 5.3 mm.             Width: About 1.7 mm. Shape: Elliptic. Apex: Acute. Margin:             Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous; matte. Lower petals: Length, central             petal, beyond throat: About 9.7 mm. Length, lateral petals,             beyond throat: About 9.1 mm. Width, central petal, beyond             throat: About 5 mm. Width, lateral petals, beyond throat:             About 6 mm. Shape, central and lateral petals: Obovate.             Apex, central and lateral petals: Cuspidate. Margin, central             and lateral petals: Entire; slightly undulate. Texture and             luster, central and lateral petals, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color, upper petals: When             opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to N81A. When             opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to N81B.             Color, lower petals: When opening and fully opened, upper             surface: Close to N81A; towards the throat, close to NN155D.             When opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to N81B;             towards the throat, close to NN155D. Color, throat: Close to             84B; spots, close to N81B; nectar guides, close to 144D.             Color, tube: Close to N81B.         -   Sepals.—Arrangement: Single whorl of five sepals, fused at             the base; star-shaped calyx. Length: About 4.4 mm. Width:             About 0.9 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Margin:             Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color, upper and lower surfaces:             Close to 137B tinged with close to 79B.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1.8 cm. Diameter: About 0.4 mm.             Strength: Strong, flexible. Texture: Smooth, glabrous.             Color: Close to 143A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Five.             Filament length: About 5.7 mm. Filament color: Distally,             close to N82A; proximally, close to N82D. Anther size: About             1 mm by 1.5 mm. Anther shape: Elliptic. Anther color: Close             to 72A. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 4C.             Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About             8.2 mm. Stigma shape: Globose. Stigma color: Close to 92A.             Style color: Close to N82B. Ovary color: Close to 145B.         -   Fruits and seeds.—Fruit and seed development have not been             observed on plants of the new Lobelia. -   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Lobelia have not been     noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Lobelia     plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Lobelia have been observed to     have good garden performance and to tolerate wind, rain and     temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to about 35° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Lobelia plant named ‘Sunlobe Torecama’ as illustrated and described. 